The best thing Dr Mumbo has read all week
As many keen media observers will have noted News Corp Australia chairman Rupert Murdoch is in town, last night delivering a speech at the Lowy Institute on the future of Australia.
In completely unrelated news, News Corp Australia editorial director Campbell Reid has taken the opportunity to yesterday remind staff about the importance of good writing to journalism and to share “some seriously compelling examples of great words used simply and powerfully to grab attention”.
For Dr Mumbo’s money it’s hard to go past a headline like: “Is that a schnauzer down your trousers”.
You can read Reid’s full email below:
Headline One is a cracker, but the `Tiser’s effort is just the kind of lamo pun that makes me roll my eyes.
Bad puns should be banned – TV stations are some of the worst offenders.
is that a pooch in your cooch?
Is that a bitzer in your shitzer?
Is that a retriever in your beaver?
Sorry, I’m a bit bored this afternoon…
London’s tabloids create the most eye-catching headlines,
Never mind that the first headline is a question… which would require a question mark (the clue is in the name). So much for “our command of the English language.”
The first one’s a zinger, but the rest are predictable print splashes – certainly nothing requiring an exceptional command of the English lanuage – and the last one wouldn’t work as a text alert. Seriously compelling? Don’t know about that…
Reminds me of the NY Times in 30 Rock, when referring to a family feud regarding character Don Geiss:
http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/733/disgeiss.jpg